Violin supporter



J. P. SPETSERIS VIOLIN sUPPolaflER Filed July 17, 1939 sept. 24, 1940.

Patented Sept. 24, 1940 y UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 7 Claims.

The invention relates to violin supporters and particularly to devices of this character by means of which a violin may be supported in playing position upon the shoulder of the player. Particularly, the invention relates to devices of this i character which hold the violin properly, with comfort to the player over long playing periods, and give the player complete control of the violin. The device is designed naturally and without discomfort to the player to adapt itself to the shoulder and clavicle formations and to the various body movements of the player and to the adjustments of the violin essential to the convenient and effective manipulation of the various violin parts. The device is essentially a saddle properly mounted on the shoulder and serving to support the violin. There are no direct and centralizedpoints of pressure applied by the device but the pressure consequent to its use is evenly distributed on and around both sides of the shoulder of the violin player. Also, the improved supporter provides for the performance by the jaw of the player of its part in maintaining proper playing position of the violin without bruising or otherwise injuring the jaw `or causing callouses thereon.

The annexed drawing and the following description set forth in detail certain means embodying my invention, such disclosed means constituting, however, only three of the various forms in which the principle of the invention may' be embodied.

In said annexed drawing:

Figure 1 is an elevation of the bearing end of the violin provided with one of the improved supporters and showing the violin supported thereby upon the shoulder of a player, a fragmentary portion of the shoulder being indicated and the view being taken from a direction outwardly from the player;

Figure 2 is a bottom plan of the bearing end lof a violin to which the improved supporter is secured; f

Figure 3 is a fragmentary plan of the improved supporter, the view being a top plan as the supporter is positioned in use;

Figure 4 is a longitudinal section, taken in the plane indicated by the line 4-4, Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a left-hand end elevation of the supporter as shown in Figures 3 and 4;

. Figure is a right-hand end elevation of the supporter as shown in Figures 3 and 4;

Figure 'l is a side elevation, partly broken away, of a modified form of a supporter as it is positioned in use; and

Figure 8 is a similar side elevation of a second modified form.

Referring to the annexed drawing in which the same parts are indicated by the same respective numbers in the several views, a violin I has the usual bearing end I', the upper and lower plates of which are laterally outwardly extended to form ilanges or beads abutting the upper and lower edges of the violin rib I4, the lower of which flanges, 6, will be hereinafter more fully referred to. The violin I also has the usual end pin 3, and the opposed lateral rib points 4 and 5 intermediate its length.

The improved device for supporting the violin upon the shoulder of the player, in the form shown in Figures 1 to 6, has a main plate 1 which, when the supporter is in use, is a top plate. Extended upwardly from the plate I and securedthereto adjacent its ends are a pair of transverse strips 8 and 9 whose upper ends l lform cheeks adapted to bear against the outwardly convex surface I2 and the substantially plane surface I3 of the bearing end of the lower plateof the violin. The strip 8 extends upwardly from the plate 'I to a somewhat greater extent than the strip 9 so that the violin I can be supported at a proper playing inclination suchy as is illustrated in Figure l.' The strip 9 also extends downwardly below the lower face of the plate l, the strip 9 for this purpose being secured to the end of the plate l and being extended both upwardly above and downwardly `below the plate I. Opposed to the downward extension of the strip 9 and secured to the lower -face of the plate l somewhat within the end thereof to which the strip 8 is secured is a transverse strip I0 which is extended downwardly considerably further than the downward extension of the strip 9. As clearly seen in Figure 1, the strip IIJ, which is extended the further downwardly, is upon the front side` of the supporter relative to the shoulder 2 of the operator, thus adapting the supporter to the clavicle formation.

` The upper surface of the strip 9 is cut away to form a depression I2 in which is disposed and secured to the strip 9 by a screw I5 one end of a member I4 which is formed at its opposite` end into an upwardly directed hook I3. A plurality .of holes I6 in the member I4 for passing the screw I5 serve to provide adjustment for the member I4. To the top face of the plate 1 and adjacent one longitudinal edge thereof is secured one end of a strap I1 havying an elliptically-shaped hole I8 adjacent its other end. The inner end of this strap I'I is nrmly secured to the plate I beneath a plate I9 which is secured to the plate l, an adjustment for the strap Il being provided by means of loosening the plate I S and adjusting the strap I'I inwardly or outwardly, as desired, and again securely fastening the plate I9. In the form of strap Il shown, the inner end thereof is formed with an elongated longitudinal opening 2i! providing adjustment over or by one of the screws II forv fastening the plate I9, when adjusting the strap I l. To the edge of the plate l, opposite that from which the strap II extends, and adjacent the ends of said edge, are secured screws having eyes 2| and 23 to which are secured resilient straps 22 and 24, respectively, these resilient straps being shown as-rubber bands or straps of similar material.

The member I4 with the hook I3, the strap I'I, and the rubber bands 22 and 24, form means for securing the violin supporter to the lower plate of the violin. In order to effect this securing of the supporter to the violin, the bearing end of the latter is first placed between the knees of the player, with the bottom violin plate up, and the hole I8 of the strap I'I first fastened over the violin pin 3. Then the hook I3 is fastened beneath the rib flange 6 upon that side of the violin to the left of the pin 3, and the rubber band 22 upon the same side fastened over the rib point 4, either upon the top or bottom plate of the violin. Then the rubber band 24 upon the opposite end of the supporter is fastened over the rib point 5 upon the opposite side of the violin. These means for fastening and the manner of fastening provide a very secure application of the supporter to the violin in the position most suitable for the service required. The several secured means together form a securing member of an essentially V- formation in which the apex of the V is at the violin pin 3 and the legs thereof extend from the pin 3 to the rib points 4 and 5, the rubber band 24 being of considerably greater strength than the rubber band 22 so that the pull or stress of the securing means is toward the rib point 5 and away from the grip or hold afforded by the hook I3 and its auxiliary rubber band 22.

Supported by the bottom edge of the downwardly extended strip I0 and the bottom edge of the opposed downwardly extended end of the strip 9 is a pad 25, preferably of soft rubber, which is adapted to rest as a saddle upon the shoulder 2 of the violin player. This pad is of upwardly concave formation, and engages or bears against the bottom face 'of the plate I intermediate the strips 9 and I0, as clearly indicated in Figure 4. The left-hand side of the pad 25, as is shown in Figure l, is designed to conform to the high portion of the players shoulder 2 and gradually curves downward therefrom, in conformity with the contour of the forward part of the shoulder 2 down to the clavicle, all as indicated clearly in Figure 1, the greater downward extension of the strip I0, as compared with the strip 9, providing for the proper curvature of the pad 25 to effect this purpose. Furthermore, in order to provide for a suitable drop in the supporter outwardly of the shoulder of the player so as to conform to the contour of the adjacent portions of the players body, the bottom edge of the strip IU slants downwardly in a direction outwardly from the players body, as clearly shown in Figure 6, so that the said bottom edge of the strip IIJ is inclined or beveled and is deeper at its outer corner. The

beveled or inclined formation of the bottom edge of the strip IU and the consequent inclined formation given to the pad 25 are clearly indicated by the number 28, Figures l, 4, and 6.

A pliable base plate 26, preferably of metal, is provided for the' pad 25, and this base plate 2B is secured to the bottom edges of the strips 9 and I0. Then the soft rubber pad 25 is cemented or otherwise suitably secured to the bottom face of the metal base plate 26. This metal base plate 2S is so firm as to maintain a fixed position or curvature but can be bent by the hand so as to assume another xed position or curvature in accordance with the formation that is desired for the upwardly concave shoulder-engaging portion of the pad. The whole side and bottom surface of the supporter is covered with suitable material, such as cloth 2'I clearly shown in Figure 4.

The high or rear end of the pad 25 is formed with an extension or nose portion 29 which extends beyond the high point of the shoulder 2, as clearly indicated in Figure l, and thus forms an increased bearing for the supporter on the shoulder 2.

Referring to the modified form of the invention shown in Figure '7, the modification consists in extending the lower right-hand strip 3I upwardly beyond the plate 1, similarly to the formation of the strip 9 at the opposite end. In other words, the strip 3l is secured to the righthand end of the plate '1. This results in a somewhat greater length to the upwardly concave formation of the soft rubber pad so that the curve thereof is somewhat flattened out as compared with that of the pad 25 shown in Figure 4. Y

In Figure 8 is shown a form of the invention somewhat further modified in that the extended nose portion 29 of the pad shown in Figures 4 and '7 is eliminated, and the bearing of the supporter upon the shoulder 2 is afforded by a pad extended only between the planes comprehended by the end strips 32 and 33.

What I claim is:

l. A violin supporter comprising a dat plate, transverse strips secured adjacent the ends of the plate and extended laterally therefrom and forming cheeks adaptable for engagement with the bottom plate of a violin, other strips also secured to said plate and extended laterally therefrom in a direction opposite to said rstmentioned strips, one of said second-mentioned strips being longer than the others and having an inclined or beveled end, an upwardly concave pliable metal plate secured to the ends of said secondmentioned strips, and a soft rubber pad secured to and seated in said metal plate.

2. A violin supporter comprising a body member having opposed violin-engaging cheeks on one face, a pad member secured to the other face of the body member and having an outer surface portion curved to conform to the human shoulder and clavicle, said pad member being provided with an inner pliable metal base plate, and resilient fastening means for the supporter.

3. A violin supporter comprising a body member having violin-engaging cheeks on one face, a pad member secured to the other face of the body member and having an outer surface portion curved to conform to the contour of the human shoulder and clavicle, a hook extended from one end of the supporter, a strap extended from one side of the supporter, and a resilient strap extended from the other side of the supporter.

4. A violin supporter comprising a body member having violin-engaging cheeks on one face, a pad member secured to the other face of the body member and having an outer surface portion curved to conform to the contour of the human shoulder and clavicle, a hook extended from one end of the supporter, a strap extended from one side of the supporter, a resilient strap extended from the other side of the supporter and serving as fastening means auxiliary to the hook, and a resilient strap divergent to and more strongly tensioned than the rst-mentioned resilient strap and extended from the last-mentioned side of the supporter adjacent the end thereof opposite said hook.

5. A violin supporter comprising a fiat plate, transverse strips secured to the ends of the plate and extended above and `below said plate, the upwardly extended strip portions forming violinengaging cheeks, and an upwardly concave pad secured to the downwardly extended ends of said strips and extended therebetween longitudinally of and in engagement with said flat plate.

6. A violin supporter, according to claim 5, in which the pad comprises a pliable metal base plate and superimposed soft rubber.

7. A violin supporter comprising a dat plate, transverse strips secured to the ends of the plate and extended above and below said plate, the upwardly extended strip portions forming violin-engaging cheeks, the forward strip of the downwardly extended strip portions being longer than the other, and an upwardly concave pad secured to the downwardly extended ends of said strips and extended therebetween longitudinally of and in engagement with said flat plate, one side portion oi said pad adjacent the longer downwardly extended strip portion being of greater depth than the opposite pad side portion.

JERRYy P. SPETSERIS.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTON.

Patent No. 2,216,052. september 2u, 191m.

I JERRY P. SPETSERIS.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent, requiring correction as follows: Page 2, seoond column, lines [L9 and 50, claiml, for the words and comma "forming cheeks adaptable for engagement with the bottom plate of' a Violin," read forming violin-engaging oheeks,'; line 55, same claim, for "one" read --the forward strips; and that the said Letters Patent should be readwith this correotion therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 29th day of' October, A. D. lQLO.

Henry Van Arsdale,

(Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents.

CERTIFICATE CORRECTION.

Patent No. 2,216,052. y September 21p, 19).;0.l

' JERRY P. SPETSERIS. v

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent` requiring correction as follows: Page 2, seeond column, lines )i9 and 50, claiml, for the words and comma "forming cheeks adaptable for engagement with the bottom plate of a violin, read --forming Violin-engaging cheeks,'; line 55, same claim, for "one" read --the forward strips; and that the said Letters Patent should be readwith this oorrec- V tion therein that the same mayconform to the record of lthe case in the Patent Office signed and sealed ,this 29th day of october, A. D. 19m).

Henry Van Arsdale,

(Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

